Dental appliance



July 24, 1951 L. L. LEATHERS DENTAL APPLIANCE Filed March 14, 1949 Patented July 24, 1 951 1;:

' LindellLL eathers,Washingtomll-C,

Apmiationman 14, 1949, Serial No. 81,340 I 7Claim's (Cl. 32-. '1 9) T obtaining the proper relation of the mandible to the maxilla and has for its primary object to ac-, curately secure and register the proper unrestrained jaw relations (centric, lateral, protrusive, etc.)- and to transfer these various bite recordings in a dependable and efficient manner to the anatomical articulator on which adjustments are made in conformance with the re-,

cordings.

.Anotherobject of this invention is to enable an operator to set up the teeth in such a manner that balanced'occlusion is possible in centric and all other excursive movements.

-' Another object of this invention is to enable stable dentures to be made, the resultant dentures being comfortably worn by the patient without discomfort or irritation to the gums.

Another principal object of this invention is:

tional upper and lower trial plate, associated together in an operative position and illustrating a bite recording and locking appliance, constructed invaccordance with the principles of this invention, in association therewith;

.. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

:Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 33 Of Figure 2;

taken through one of the housings for one of the floating pins, illustrating the structural details thereof;

Figure 5 vention;

:Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the recordmg plate, adapted for use with this invention,

igure '1 is a view in perspective of a wrench, provided forlocking the floating pins, shown in perspective in Figure 5 and in detail in Figure 4,

iii -a desired position.

In the construction of artificial dentures, im-

pression's are. initially made of the maxilla and mandible of the patient and casts or models are formed thereby to form an upper trial plate l0 and, a lower: trial plate l2, having compound bite rims and I6 built thereon.

l. invention relates to a dental appliance for Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view is'a view in perspective of this inproper relationship.

A stainless steel sup orting plate l8, which is} configured to conform, to the arcuateconfigura tion of the bite rim I6 is positioned within the; bite rim and anchored thereinby heating the,- bite rim and anchoring the plate in the melted; compound, which hardens instantly to hold the, plate. The supporting plate is centrally;aper tured to receive a vertically disposed convenf tional stylus or central bearing pin 22, the lat ter being externally threaded and retained with}, in an internally threaded locking sleeve 24,; whereby the pin may be adjusted vertically in the;- plate. A recording or bearing plate 26 is shaped similar to the sup-porting plate [8 and is affixed; to the upper trial plate in an identical manner;

The trial platesafter being formed and fitted, as above described, are placed in the mouth of the, patient and the bearing pin 22 is adjusted-in the; sleeve 24 until the proper vertical dimension is obtained and, the plates are set to the proper,-. point. The trial plates are then removed from? the patientsmouth and the bearing plate 26 covered with a tracing material. After the plates} are re-inserted in the patients mouth, the patient moves his jaws to effect his normal excursive chewing movements and the bearingpin 22 is" thereby brought into engagement with .the bear-a ing plate 26. The pin thus traces or form s a: Gothic arch 28 on the bearing plate, giving the 'j centric, protrusive and the left and right lateral. relationships Of the mandible,

The trial plates are then removed from the"? patients mouth and a holding plate 30 is secured tothe recording plate by the fastening means 32 adjustably held ,in the longitudinally extend.- 1 ingslot 34 in the plate. A frusto-conical shaped, opening 36 is formed in the plate and is adapted to be vertically aligned with the apex of the Gothic arch, theholding plate being adjusted on the fastening means until the opening overlies: the apex of the arch, at which instant the hold-f, ing plate is locked in position. The holding plate is provided to hold'the bearing pin in the proper,- relationship to the bearing plate and thereby, I retain the bearing and supporting plate in a The plates; are re-inserted in the patients l mouth and he is directed to close upon-the plates until the pin 22 drops into, the opening 36 at '1 which time a small amount of plaster of Paris? is squirted between the lates. .Record check bites of the protrusive occlusion can be obtained in a similar manner by adjusting the apertureifl opening 35 in the holding plate to a position onthe straight line of the Gothic arch;

11 11 a manner, well known in' the prosthetic 3 the trial plates are subsequently placed on the articulator, built up and provided with artificial teeth.

The aim of this invention is to provide a novel means to record the correct plane of Occlusion and to prevent the trial plates from moving into a strained relationship under an unequalized pressure against the ridges. The bite can thus be transferred to the articulator without fear of error and without any guesswork involved and the true centric reading is preserved.

In this respect, a plurality of devices, constructed in accordance with the teachingofthis invention, are provided and are grouped about the center bearing pin in a triangular formation as at 52, 54 and 56.

As seen in Figure 4, the devices include a tubular or cylindrical sleeve 58, which is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinal bore 60. The sleeve terminates at its upper end in an enlarged head 62-, which is seated upon the upper surface of a supporting plate I8 and secured thereon in a manner, whereby the same becomes integral with the plate. The head 62 is formed with a'central bore 64, which is vertically aligned with the bore 60' and axially reduced with respect thereto. The sleeve or tube Bterminates at its lower extremity in an externally threaded end 66, upon which is detachablypositioned a locking cap 68; A- pin 10 is slidably disposed within the aligned bores 60 and 64 and is formed at its lower end with an enlarged. head 12-, the latter being slidably disposed" within the bore 60. The-pin terminates at its upper end in a fared or conical extremity", whichis adapted toengage .-.o'1- impinge-against the bearing plate, as will be later described.

The'pins are freelydisposed within the sleeves and are adapted to float therein upon coil springs 16: or similar resilient supporting means, which are positioned between the head 12 of the pin and the closure cap 68. The resilient means functions to normally urge the'pins upwardly, so that the fared ends T4 bear against the bearing plate.

Means is provided for locking the pin in any desired position, withrespect to the plate 18 and preferably includes a set screw 18, which'is radially disposedthrough the head'62 of the sleeve and is-adapted to bear against the pin. An elon-- gated slot or guideway 80 is formed'inthe shank of the pin and is adapted'to receive the inner end of the set screw 18, whereby the pin isfrictionally held in thedesired locked position. A socket wrench 82 is provided with a knurled handle 84 andis adapted'for' use in looking and unlocking pins are allowed to float freely on the springs'lG' and move freely in the sleeves.

The patient is requested to movehis jaws and when the center pin drops into the opening 36, the locking pins are locked by tightening the set screws 18 withthewrench 82. Thus, the dentist observes the movements of the bearing plate and the supporting plate and the instant that'the cen- 4 ter pin moves into the opening in the holding plate, the locking pins are locked by merely twisting the set screws slightly so that they are brought to bear against the locking pins. The trial plates are thereby held in the proper horizontal plane and undesired tipping of either of the plates is prevented so that the proper unrestrained jaw relations are recorded. After the pins are locked. plaster or an other suitable material is inserted between the bearing and supporting plate and when the material is hard, the whole assembly of trial plates with the supporting and bearing plates are assembled with casts and transferred to the articulator. A previous mounting of the upper trial plat to the articulator by means of a face bow isrecommended.

It is thus seen that ther is provided an improvement in the obtainin and recording of bites, with the use of the center bearing pin. For, the locking pins grouped around the center'b'ear ing pinwill enable the correct relationshipsot the jaws to be obtained, without any error, and in transferring the bite to the articulator, the same-will be held and retained and later reset on the articulator in the proper position, particular to the patient;

It can be appreciated that it i vitally'necessary that with the use of the center pin only that the plaster or similar material be immediately-in--' serted between the plates when the center'pln. moves into the holding plate. However, it is very difiicult for a patient to retain the relationship of the jaws when the 'pindrops'into the ,hole and there is a tendency to move the jaws and thereby place the jaws in a strained relationship. The trial plates will conform to the-jaw movements and will unevenly press into theridges: How-" ever, the'locking pins will prevent the patient from changing the jaw relationships obtained when the center pin moves into the holding plate.

Having described the invention; what is claimed as new is: v v

1. In combination with trial platesadapted to: befitted'to-a persons jaws, a-bearing plate d8: tachably fixed'to one of the plates and adapted to have a tracing recorded'thereon, a supporting plate detachably fixed to the other trial plate, a verticallyadjustable stylus carried by said supporting plate and adapted to bear against the. bearing-plate; aholding plate adjustably *mounted onsaid bearing plate and having means for seating said stylus when the proper rela-tionship 'of the jaws is obtained, andlocking members adjustably carried by said supporting plate andgrouped in a set pattern'around-the stylus for holding said trial plates against relative mov'e-- ment and maintaining the jawrelationship and the trial plates in an unstrained placement;

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said locking members include floating pins and'l'ock ing means for said pins.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said" pins are. arranged about. the stylus in a substan tially triangular formation.

4. The combination of claim 1, whereinsald locking-emembers include tubular. sleeves vertie, cally disposed through said supporting plate and grouped about said stylus and floating pins housed;

in said-sleeves.

51 The "combination of claim .1; fwhereinrsaid locking members include tubular sleeves 'verticallyzi disposed through said supporting plate, closure means on thelower ends of 'the"sleeves, pins: slidably housed in said sleeves; resilient meant 5 X disposed between said closure means and pins and locking means for said pins.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said locking means includes transverse set screws, in said sleeves.

'7. In combination with trial plates adapted to be fitted to a persons jaws, a bearing plate detachably fixed to one of the plates and adapted ,to have a tracing recorded thereon, a supporting plate detachably fixed to the other trial plate, a vertically adjustable stylus carried by said supporting plate and adapted to bear against the bearing plate, a holding plate adjustably mounted on said bearing plate and having means for seating said stylus when the proper relationship of the jaws is obtained, and vertical locking members grouped in a triangular formation around the stylus and adjustably carried by the support- 6 ing plate for holding said trial plates against relative movement and maintaining the jaw relationship and the trial plates in an unstrained place ment, said locking members being individually adjustable and spring mounted.

LINDELL L. LEATHERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,669,385 Highkin May 8, 1928 1,799,528 Phillips Apr. 7, 1931 2,255,267 Morgan Sept. 9, 1941 2,418,648 Kile Apr. 8, 1947 

